2002-05-17                     Senate Journal                      Page 3655
SJR 201                                                                                           
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 201 BY THE SENATE RULES                                                 
COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR,                                                               
                                                                                                    
          Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the                                         
          State of Alaska relating to providing for priorities for                                  
          and among subsistence uses in the allocation of fish,                                     
          wildlife, and other renewable resources.                                                  
                                                                                                    

2002-05-17                     Senate Journal                      Page 3656
was read the first time and referred to the Resources Committee.                                    
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Office of the Governor                                                          
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated May 17:                                                         
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Today I am presenting the subsistence joint resolution that I                                       
introduced in February during the regular session. That joint                                       
resolution, HJR 41, received a hearing in the House Resources                                       
Committee but did not progress any further. The Senate version, SJR
, received no hearings. That is unfortunate because the citizens of                               
Alaska clearly want to vote on this issue.                                                          
                                                                                                    
Over 70 percent of the Anchorage voters who voted in a municipal                                    
election this spring favored putting a constitutional amendment                                     
concerning subsistence on the ballot. Business leaders have testified                               
that the state's inability to resolve this issue will hinder resource                               
development. Religious leaders have urged that we take this action in                               
order to bridge the growing urban-rural divide in Alaska. Native                                    
leaders say that this may be the last time that Alaska Natives will                                 
support a return to state management of our fish and game.                                          
Nevertheless, some legislators have turned a deaf ear to those voices.                              
                                                                                                    
While those legislators have ignored their constituents, the federal                                
government has continued to strengthen its grip on subsistence                                      
management. That management is diverging more and more from the                                     
way state boards deal with our fish and game. Dual management                                       
confuses the public, upsets historic patterns of allocation, and will                               
ultimately jeopardize the health of our resources.                                                  
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

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Time is drawing short for Alaskans to solve this problem. I urge you to                             
work with me to unify our state and to regain our right to manage all                               
uses of Alaska's resources.                                                                         
                                                                                                    
Sincerely                                                                                           
/s/                                                                                                 
Tony Knowles                                                                                        
Governor